Jon graduated from Pacific Grove High School, after his family moved from San Diego when he was a teenager, and engaged in a diverse range of jobs including reserve firefighter in Pacific Grove, security at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and 911 dispatcher in Monterey County. Following a knee injury while working for the Monterey Fire Department in 2007, Jon was accepted to San Jose State and spent an academic year abroad, studying in England and Sweden. Once back home, Jon completed a bachelor's degree in public relations, with a minor in anthropology. Throughout college, Jon also continued working as a 911 dispatcher to support himself.

Jon Wizard at the 2018 Pride celebration in Seaside.

Jon then attended the police academy and worked in San Luis Obispo as a police officer. In 2015, Jon returned home and was hired as a deputy sheriff in San Benito County. After a second injury on the job ended his law enforcement career, Jon completed an associate's degree in criminal justice and earned a master's degree in humanities from CSU Dominguez Hills (Los Angeles-area). As someone who believes in continually seeking to better himself, Jon is now enrolled in a master's of public administration course, also at CSU Dominguez Hills. Jon has discovered his passion is serving the community, whether in the capacity of law enforcement or as a political leader. Once he began attending local government meetings and speaking up on important issues for the community, he was recognized for his smart and sensible approach to local issues and appointed to the Monterey County Planning Commission by Supervisor Jane Parker.

Jon and his partner, Jessica, recently purchased a home near Pacchetti Dog Park, where they live with his two step-kids, Ashton and Tristan, a miniature dachshund named Björn, and a cat named Foxx.